Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Chimpancheez Camera Companion Review + Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a Chimpancheez sample to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

There's a prime time for taking photos of kids. It's unfortunately a very short window - from the moment they learn how to sit unassisted until the moment they learn how to move away from where they have been placed for the perfect shot. Now that Addie is on the move, it's becoming increasingly difficult to capture her sweet expressions. Her constant goal is to be climbing on me, so I have to make a strategic plan if I want photos!

I was really excited to give the Chimpancheez Camera Companion a try! Chimpanceez is a brilliant company with one goal in mind: bringing smiles to children's faces! Hopr, LLC (the award winning design studio behind Chimpanheez) has partnered with Smile Train - the world's largest cleft lip and cleft palate charity. Every time a Chimpancheez is purchased, $1 is donated to Smile Train.

If you're wondering just how this little monkey works, here's the scoop. This cute little companion is designed to fit around the lens of an SLR camera (like my Nikon D3000). Press his hand and several bright lights flash - it's a perfect way to grab a child's attention!

It took me a few tries to get used to shooting with this monkey attached to my lens, but after a few minutes, he was one of my new best friends.

My kids have taken it upon themselves to do everything in their power to grab my new little monkey pal off the camera, but the lights usually distract them long enough for me to snap several photos! I used my Chimpancheez to take Addie's eight month photos, and she was much more compliant than normal!

I dream about having the time to learn enough about photography to run a side business taking photos of families and sweet babies. If that dream ever becomes a reality, you can bet that the Chimpancheez will be a staple in my camera bag. Hey, he's a must-have in my photo gear right now! A great product that supports a great cause is a definite win in my book.

I have to watch Lincoln pretty closely when my camera companion is attached to my lens. Right now, he is obsessed with monkeys and is constantly trying to grab this one so that they can play. There are a lot of things in our house that are off-limits for him to touch (he is a rough and tumble little man), but Chimpancheez is made very well and I am not afraid to let Lincoln play with him. At least, I'm okay with it as long as it is off my camera!

You can find Chimpancheez on the web and on Facebook and Twitter. The Green Man Drill monkey (as pictured) is available for purchase for $19.99. This camera companion would be a perfect gift for your favorite photographer! Here's hoping he'll get your kids to "smile with eez!"

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a Chimpancheez Camera Companion. This giveaway will end on August 26 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Good luck!

Thank you to Chimpancheez for providing my review sample and the giveaway prize! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

I take pictures of my kids all the time. But now my kids are old enough to take pictures of themselves and each other and their friends and everything else in sight, so I don't have to be quite as diligent as I once was in taking a hundred pictures a month to document every little change in their lives. I thought this would be a great gift for my Aunt however who is a photographer and soon to be a new grandmother :) I am sure she will have a zillion baby pics to capture.